10 -The Michigan aly - Friday, March 26, 1999 A CENTURY OF 'U ' Di etd a War, construction shape campus life Notable events of the 1900=30 University era: 1901: The Bachelor of Arts is created from several smaller degrees. It omits the Greek and Latin requirements - a triumph for modern literature and language 1902: Michigan Law Journal monthly magazine starts. It later becomes the Michigan Law Review, a faculty and student edited publication. 1903: The Mosley Commission from Great Britain comes to the University and declares it 'the oldest and most famous of the state universities.' University President James Angell announces that the University has a studentfrom every state in the Union and all territories except Alaska. 1903: The University is nearly finished with the completion of the West Engineering Building. The archway on the Diag is completed. 1903: The all-male honor society Michigamua initiates action to construct a union for the University's male students. The Barbour Gym, a ladies parlor, is considered a social place for women. In 1907, Michigamua purchases the house of Thomas Cooley on State Street to be remodeled for a clubhouse. 1904: Loan and scholarship fund starts. Twelve hundred of the campus' 4,300 students pay all or part of their expenses. 1907: Phi Beta Kappa establishes a chapter at the University. 1910: University enrollment climbs to 5,339, ranking above Harvard University. 1911: The University establishes the department of fine art. 1912: University adapts the present grading system of "A" to "E," ranging from three points for an. "A" to -1 for an "E." To graduate, a student has to complete 120 credit hours and 135 honor points, which averages to be better than a "C" average. 1916: The graduation requirement drops to 120 honor points. 191.0: Regent Arthur Hill dies, leaving $200,000 to the University to build an auditorium. 1914: The University opens a contagious disease hospital with $25,000 raised by the City of Ann Arbor.. 1915: On Christmas Eve, an Ann Arbor resident named Richard Hall dies while serving in an ambulance unit on the French frot. A $2,000 scholarship is set up in his name for students of forestry or dentistry. 1917: Forty-three married instructors petition the f regents for a raise in salary. Salaries for instructors range from $1,000 to $1,400, $1,600 to $1,800 for assistant professors, $2,000 to $2,200 for associate professors and $2,500 to $4,000 for full professors. Deans earns at least $5,000. 1917: Hill Auditorium is site of a farewell reception for men drafted to serve in World War I. 1924: The 60th Greek chapter opens on campus. Thirty-two percent of men and 22 percent of women are active in the Greek System. 1927: Michigan Stadium opens for its first kickoff for the last game of the football season. 1927: The University implements the concept of first-year orientation. 1929: The University announces plans to build a large women's dormitory after women protest their living conditions. -Information courtesy of Howard Peckham 's "The Making of the University of Michigan 1817- 1992" and Jonathan Marwil's '-A History of Ann Arbor." 'U' students rally frwr sports vi*ctones By Jaimi, Winkler Daily Staff' Reporter The opening decades of the 20th Century were marked by growth, a world war and periods of student activism. The University - pushed in different directions by events of national magnitude and its own visions- con- tinued to shape campus life, At the turn of the century, University President James Angell lead a student body of 3,303. With such a small group of students, many of them identified with their classes. In November 1900, two rival departments - literary and law - played a traditionally game of football. The morning after the junior "lits" beat the senior "laws.," the law building had been freshly painted red overnight. In a written letter to the University Board of Regents. the juniors denied all responsibility for the prank. The paint soaked into the building's sandstone and "could never be completely removed," according to Howard Peckham's book titled "The History of the University." But during the following decades students moved away from rowdiness and began to organize student life. The growth of sororities and fraternities, honor soci- eties, student publications, organized music and theater events, as well as the movement to build a student union, helped to entertain the expanding student body. "There was hardly time for deviltry or lawlessness," Peckham wrote. By 1903, the University could boast of having a stu- dent from every state, and in 1911, it became the third- largest university in the country with a student popula- tion of 5,339. This trend of rapid growth leveled out until World War I - when the University suffered a~steep decline in enrollment. Preparing for the war transformed the campus, rally- ing members of the community behind the nation's war involvement. "We believe that the part played by the colleges and universities is of vital importance to the country in preparing for war," wrote the regents in a proposal to implement military training for students, which appeared in The Michigan Daily on March 27, 1917. A campuswide vote showed students supported the regents' proposal. "The vote clearly shows that the students are willing to make a sacrifice and assume the responsibilities of the hour," Literary Dean John Effinger told the Daily. That night, 2,500 men marched on State Street singing patriotic songs and carrying a banner that read "Michigan for America."~ DANA LINNANE/OD The University president's home is located on South University Street. Not until the early 20th Century did student enrollment~ begin to number into the thousands, allowing many students to form a personal relationship with the president. The day before the Senate approved President Woodrow Wilson's motion to go to war, University junior Rowena Bastin gave a speech encouraging women to "wipe out the war" by not joining the war effort. "it is the duty of women to remove the cause of suf- fering, but not the suffering. Every time we roll a ban- dage we prolong war, and war must stop," Bastin said. Between the 1916 and 1917 academic years, enroll- ment dropped from 7,5 17 to 6,057 - shortly before the first draft of local men. When the Reserve Officers Training Corps established a campus chapter the same year, more than 1,800 students immediately enrolled, making it the largest unit of any university. Many students showed their pro-war spirit by buying war bonds totaling more than $650,000. Angell's house became a Red Cross Headquarters. "In dormitories and fraternities, meatless, wheat- less,and sweetless days are observed each week to con- serve those foods," Peckham wrote in his book. Just as the University had supported the nation's entrance in to war, it elaborately celebrated, war's end. On Nov. 11, 1918 - Armistice Day, the Daily printed four special editions to mark the occasion. Students and residents marched in parades and the University canceled classes in celebration. In the years immediately following World War I, enrollment boomed. By 1922, more than 10,000 students attended classes in Ann Arbor. At this time, the University's administration also changed. University President Marion Burton reconfig- ured the hierarchy of the faculty and administration and he emphasized a shift in teaching philosophy - from teaching students what to think to teaching students how to think. During the early 1920s, Friday and Saturday nights in Ann Arbor were alive with activity. Movie theaters such as The Majestic, the Michigan Theater and The Arcade were jammed. But sometimes students crowded theaters for reasons other than to seek entertainment. Students celebrated the undefeated 1922 football sea- son by rushing two theaters, causing damage to bot places. Student leaders collected money to repair dam- ages caused by the "rush." But in May, another incident occurred while students celebrated the end of the academic year with an annual event called the Swing-out. The following academic year, a disciplinary commit- tee sent a message to students by expelling and sus- pending some students. The academic year passed with- out any rushes, and the almost-canceled Swing -out went off without a hitch. "Rushing" resurfaced when the basketball team won. the conference title in March 1929. Students aga~t rushed the Michigan Theater, "Reviving the mob spirit which has reigned so often after athletic victories by Michigan teams, approximate- ly 5,000 people, most of them students," rushed the Michigan Theater, the Daily reported on March 5, 1929. Local police officers used tear gas on the students, and the mob threw eggs and bricks. A group of students rioted and protested the arrest of three students "until President Clarence Cook Little arrived on the scene to take the students to his home," the Daily reported. Attempts to raise money for the damages, which we successful in the past, petered out before much could be raised. This busy period in the University's history prefaced even more changes to come. Local entertainment venues add to students' social lives By Jenni Glenn and Lindsey Alpert Daily Arts Writers The state of arts on campus prospered dur- ing the opening decades of the 20th Century, putting into form many of the cultural institu- tions on and around campus that continue to thrive today. This weekend's MUSKET production "Chess" is part of a long-standing tradition of student performances. MUSKET's predeces- sor, the Michigan Union Opera Company, per- formed its first show, "Michigenda," Feb. 26, 1908 at the Whitney Theater, a Main Street theater at the time. Student Roy Welch wrote a satire about a magical kingdom without any faculty members. The all-male opera compa- ny toured the Midwest beginning in 1910. said. "Instead of talking about 'Dawson's Creek,' they would talk about whatever movie was going on." Sometimes young people became overly enthusiastic about the movies, Collins said. "Every so often, particularly during football season, students would rush a theater," Collins said. B~esides not paying, groups of students frequently broke marquee bulbs. As part of the local nightlife, students also enjoyed fraternity parties. For transportation to and from parties, couples could rent a horse-drawn carriage for $1 .50 before mid- night, and for $2 in the early morning hours. Greek houses faced some of the same prob- lems in the first decades of the 20th .Century as they do today - issues such as those sur- rounding alcohol and hazing. In 1909, problems 0 movieswith hazing led to the expulsion of two more University sopho- mores. Spassionat#e For amusement, humor publications became popular with RussColinsmany University stu- - RussMchCollinsate dents. ~to, ichga Thatr The first issue of the Gargoyle, a 32- page book containing humorous sketches, verses and cartoons, was published Feb. 9, 1909, under the leadership of editor Lee White. On the first day of the school year, 1,000 copies of the Gargoyle were printed and Courtesy of Michigan Athletic Department Former Michigan football coach and Athletic Director Fielding Yost walks In front: of the building that bears his name -- today known as Yost Ice Arena. Yost grrounded M sprS: UMS, then called the Choral Union, brought in performers from around the world and sponsored Handel's "Messiah" just as it does today. The Choral Union and Michigan Union Opera Company's performances took "Going to th4 was a much common andi experience. By Aran Gopal Daily Sports Writer In keeping with changes of the time, the University underwent a dramatic facelift. In particular, athletics at Michigan changed drastically. Many followers of Michigan athletics, in fact, argue that the years 1900-30 constituted the single greatest era of development in the history of Michigan athletics. The catalyst for the majority of changes was Fielding Yost, who is best remembered as the coach of the Michigan football team from 190 1-26, with a one-year hiatus in 1924. Yost also served as athletic director from 1921-41. In this dual role, the pioneer- ing Yost became one of the most influ- their haste to depart for Chicago. Yos' attempts to retrieve the jug were met tW "If you want it, you'll have to come up and win it," from Minnesota Athletic Director L.J. Cooke. As a result, the rival teams began to wage their now tra- ditional battle for the Little Brown Jug in 1909. As athletic director, Yost presided over a number of building projects between 1921 and 1930, the most note- worthy of which was the construction Michigan Stadium. Built at a cost ofW million, the "Big House" opened October 22, 1927 with a capacity of 84,401, making it the largest college- owned stadium in the nation, a title it holds today. Executive Dire( {ce at area theaters ke the Whitney, the Majestic and the rplieum - the building where Gratzi on ain Street is located today. These theaters 3sted both performance acts and silent )vles. sa'